Frontiers in Medicine (Jul 2024)

Long COVID: cognitive, balance, and retina manifestations

  • Meritxell Carmona-Cervelló,
  • Brenda Biaani León-Gómez,
  • Rosalia Dacosta-Aguayo,
  • Rosalia Dacosta-Aguayo,
  • Noemí Lamonja-Vicente,
  • Noemí Lamonja-Vicente,
  • Pilar Montero-Alía,
  • Pilar Montero-Alía,
  • Gemma Molist,
  • Gemma Molist,
  • Aitana Ayet,
  • Carla Chacón,
  • Carla Chacón,
  • Anna Costa-Garrido,
  • Victor M. López-Lifante,
  • Victor M. López-Lifante,
  • Victor M. López-Lifante,
  • Victor M. López-Lifante,
  • Valeria Zamora-Putin,
  • Valeria Zamora-Putin,
  • Liudmila Liutsko,
  • Rosa García-Sierra,
  • Rosa García-Sierra,
  • Rosa García-Sierra,
  • Antònia Fornés,
  • Eduard Moreno-Gabriel,
  • Eduard Moreno-Gabriel,
  • Eduard Moreno-Gabriel,
  • Marta Massanella,
  • Marta Massanella,
  • Marta Massanella,
  • Jose A. Muñoz-Moreno,
  • Jose A. Muñoz-Moreno,
  • M. Carmen Rodríguez-Pérez,
  • M. Carmen Rodríguez-Pérez,
  • Lourdes Mateu,
  • Lourdes Mateu,
  • Lourdes Mateu,
  • Lourdes Mateu,
  • Anna Prats,
  • Maria Mataró,
  • Maria Mataró,
  • Maria Mataró,
  • Marc Boigues,
  • Marc Boigues,
  • Marc Boigues,
  • Bibiana Quirant,
  • Bibiana Quirant,
  • Bibiana Quirant,
  • Julia G. Prado,
  • Julia G. Prado,
  • Julia G. Prado,
  • Eva Martínez-Cáceres,
  • Eva Martínez-Cáceres,
  • Eva Martínez-Cáceres,
  • Concepción Violán,
  • Concepción Violán,
  • Concepción Violán,
  • Concepción Violán,
  • Concepción Violán,
  • Pere Torán-Monserrat,
  • Pere Torán-Monserrat,
  • Pere Torán-Monserrat,
  • Pere Torán-Monserrat,
  • the APC Collaborative Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1399145
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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BackgroundThe neurological symptoms of Long COVID (LC) and the impact of neuropsychological manifestations on people’s daily lives have been extensively described. Although a large body of literature describes symptoms, validating this with objective measures is important. This study aims to identify and describe the effects of Long COVID on cognition, balance, and the retinal fundus, and determine whether the duration of symptoms influences cognitive impairment.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved LC volunteers with cognitive complaint from public health centers in northern Barcelona who participated between January 2022 and March 2023. This study collected sociodemographic characteristics, information on substance use, comorbidities, and clinical data related to COVID-19. We measured five cognitive domains using a battery of neuropsychological tests. Balance was assessed through posturography and retinal vascular involvement by retinography.ResultsA total of 166 people with LC and cognitive complaints participated, 80.72% were women and mean age was 49.28 ± 8.39 years. The most common self-reported symptoms were concentration and memory deficit (98.80%), brain fog (82.53%) and insomnia (71.17%). The 68.67% presented cognitive deficit in at least one domain, with executive functions being the most frequent (43.98%). The 51.52% of the participants exhibited a dysfunctional pattern in balance, and 9.2% showed some alteration in the retina. There were no statistically significant differences between cognitive impairment and symptom duration.ConclusionOur findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the pathology associated with Long COVID. They highlight the diversity of self-reported symptoms, the presence of abnormal balance patterns, and some cognitive impairment. These findings underscore the necessity of addressing the clinical management of this condition in primary care through follow-up and the pursuit of multidisciplinary and comprehensive treatment.

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